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Upgrade

Conversion with an upgrade for @pitbulls_and_poledancing took a simple double to a stellar triple! On my strong yet slimmer staves, they are even lighter than before even with the newly added top row. Flutter on!

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Tila Conversion

@tilavontwirl had amazing feathers, but heavy staves. So we gave them a fresh start! Assembled by @jahireen, we moved the feathers over from a clunky set of acrylics to my 12″ staves in almond. The set is even bigger, fluffier and lighter than before!

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Catty Conversion

This is the sweet conversion done for @misscattywompass! Assembled by @jahireen, we moved the feathers over from a clunky set of acrylics to gold 12″ staves and gave the feathers a little manicure. The set looks new again and will perform better for years to come!

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Bella’s Boas

Back to @bellasincle, this boa set is actually usable now! A switch to my staves can completely change and enhance your performing capabilities!

If you have a set on acrylic that lumber, a conversion to my staves can really salvage your boa investment, unlock your performance and make your fans enjoyable to work with!

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Upgrade Top Row

Show ❤️ to your old fans and feathers! @misscattywompass did with this conversion and upgrade!

Taking the lower emerald and purple feathers from a set on acrylics, we added a row of fresh forest green plumes from @fancyfeathercom. Assembled on my aluminum staves, these are bigger, lighter and more durable for years on the stage.

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Upgrade Tops

Really enjoyed doing this set for @sallybdash!

Sally had inherited a double layer set from a special friend and wanted to get them refurbished to be able to take them back to the stage in their honor. The feathers weren’t perfect and the dye sun faded in places, but still good shape. We popped off the feathers, added a new for of fresh plumes, had the whole batch redyed at @fancyfeathercom and mounted on my higher quality staves. These are ready again for the stage!

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Refurbish Boa

Another past project — refurbish + conversion — done for @madelinesinclaire!

This set has new life for years on the stage! Starting with an old set of pink, well loved ostrich and marabou boas, we were able to pop them off and send them back to @fancyfeathercom for a wash and stunning ombre dye. These were then mounted on 24 of my 20″ staves. I at first wasn’t confident these would turn out as good as they did, but goes to show quality feathers are always worth a second chance!

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Gold Upgrade

How amazing this golden upgrade for @auroramaur_dances turned out even surprised me!

First, the front and inside feathers of this set (which were a dark mustard-topaz) were salvaged from a glued bamboo and fabric structure. Starting with a lot of little drabs and about a row’s worth of wing feathers, we sent them over to @fancyfeathercom for a wash, added a fresh top row of plumes and dyed the entire batch together in their vintage gold. I have no idea what dye wizardry was used, but the new color achieved on the salvaged feathers exceeded all of my expectations! The build for each fan uses 13 12″ staves with an accent stave on the front that is ready to be rhinestoned and really pop!

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Red Conversion

A red hot conversion for @msgidgetbardot!

Not only was I able to meet Gidget while in Nashville (btw… some of the best kept fans I’ve seen over all the years of doing conversions and upgrades), I enjoyed the insider scoop of how unique the scene and venues are!

A straight forward project for lighter lift and more condensed fluff, we just moved the front layer drabs and double plume over to a 24 count set 12″ in ruby red.

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Conversion upgrade

A little cream in your coffee? Ariel Helvetica will add the sugar!

I have new favorites all the time and adding this conversion and upgrade to the list! Starting with a set of hot fans, we moved the feathers to 28 14″ staves in copper jacket adding a full row and a half of custom ombre premium plumes from Rainbow Feathers.

The results are delicious!

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Conversion upgrade

I took over from Dirty Little Flirt on this conversion/upgrade!

The DIY kits are a great option if you are super crafty with wire (like from jewelery arts) or other small detailed work, but also have a great amount of patience for laying out large patterns. This set upgrade had a lot going on which can be overwhelming too… fresh top layer plumes and drabs, but smaller plumes from a previous set. It was all a little much when the stave kit arrived, but no worries! I’m always willing to take it all back and complete the build.

So if you have a kit tucked away in a closet, let me know. No shame in trying!

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Pink conversion

A blast of pink fun done for Katana!

We said goodbye to the awful, oversized, heavy and brittle hot fans staves and converted these to 24 12″ staves in pretty pink. To upgrade, we added a top row of 25″+ custom dyed Rainbow Feathers plumes. Bright, light and with an easier hand hold, this type of upgrade is well worth the investment!

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Flirt conversion

Cutie flirty flirt conversion done for Sally Marvel.

She had enough small wing feathers — more durable and have the same feather texture as plumes, but are shorter with a more narrow shape — to do a double layer across 24 staves. Using the 8″, the set is pretty compact and dense. But this is a great set for small spaces, crowd work or just a flirty bit.

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Teal ombre

A refurbish and conversion gave these boas a whole new look.

Originally from @fancyfeathercom, the 24 ostrich and marbou boas were redyed by Fancy Feather and then mounted using a wrap assembly on 24 of my 20″ staves in a new blue green color.

A lighter lift and more compact, these fans float easier and look fuller.

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Double conversion

Seeing double? There are two fan conversions in this post! XX sent over the first one and then the second one about a month later to ensure they always had a set available for their performances. 

We moved the feathers over to a 24 set of 12″ staves in almond and added a fresh top row of a set of plumes in white from Fancy Feather.

Other cool news, both sets fit into one of my large cases!

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Topaz conversion

I met Anadelia at the fan workshop (hosted by Miss Isabelle Marie) and was able to take her fans home with me for her conversion!

These moved over from Hot Fans staves which are big, heavy, bulky and not built for performance. The feathers are now on a set of my 8″ staves in gold bar. This cute flirt set is ready again for the stage!

If you’re converting from Hot Fans, keep in mind the limitations of the feathers. It’s great that they don’t glue, but the feathers are cut to a rounded shape. Usually our only option is to move the feathers to a flirt size set or use them as a front row and add a fresh top row.

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Silver conversion

The first set to ship in 2022 is this conversion for Angelica Lavalier which couldn’t be a more fitting start to the new year!

If you have feather fans on staves that have broken, hinder your performance or need a refresh, consider a conversion. Breaking up with acrylic can be the right step to take to salvage your beautiful feathers and advance your capabilities.

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Sassy Conversion

Ready to hit the stage again! This set was a standard conversion (just moving feathers over from acrylics to my aluminum staves) done for Sassy von Straddler. Helps that her feathers are really high quality!

Swapped to 24 12″ staves in traffic orange, this set is now lighter, more compact, less damaging to the feathers and bigger (taller all around and more bounce separation between the top and inner back layer). These will be show stoppers for many years to come!

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Michelle’s Boa Fans

Sally Rand is forever embedded in the iconography of #Chicago. Her fans helped save a World’s Fair and attract millions to our city.

For that reason, it should be no surprise that it was here that Michelle L’amour worked with Fancy Feather to redevelop burlesque fans. Michelle’s Claire de Lune tribute act became one of her most favorite numbers and forever linked her to our fan dancing legacy.

Many years later, my adventures with fan staves also began in Chicago. This spooky weekend, let’s believe that I was visited by the same spirit that inspired Michelle. It was a bit frightening, but a huge honor to convert her from acrylics to my metal staves. Special thanks to Rainbow Feathers for giving them a gentle wash and fluff.

Now on stronger, lighter staves, these boa fans will continue their journey from stage to stage with their most exquisite boa tamer, Michelle L’amour.

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Psychedelic baubles

Gigi Bonbon was an exceptional client!!! She came with a concept and the luxury of time. She had the cream front feathers and tip dyed inside feathers. Once we set the stave design, we finalized the rest of the color palette. Using Cricut vinyl, Rainbow Feathers then dyed the top row pink to gold tip feathers to match. The staves were powder coated in a cream, all the bauble circles cut on my Cricut Maker, placed before a final blast with clear spray paint to lock them in and then assembled. The fans collapse to the center and are on a short bolt to keep the feather fluff as back as possible.

This process took 5 months. And when I put it into text, it makes sense. Amazing takes so much… planning, brain, logistics, building… time. These are definitely one of the most stellar fan designs I’ve done. I couldn’t be more thrilled with the result!!